An Act for the better security of rents and to prevent frauds committed by tenants.

1. [This Act may be cited as the Landlord and Tenant Act.]

2. No goods or chattels whatsoever lying in or upon any messuage lands or tenements which are or shall be leased for life or lives term of years at will or otherwise shall be liable to be taken by virtue of any execution on any pretence whatsoever unless the party at whose suit the said execution is sued out shall before the removal of such goods from off the said premisses by virtue of such execution or extent pay to the landlord of the said premisses or his bailiff all such sum or sums of money as are or shall be due for rent for the said premisses at the time of the taking such goods or chattels by virtue of such execution: Provided the said arrears of rent do not amount to more than one years rent and in case the said arrears shall exceed one years rent then the said party at whose suit such execution is sued out paying the said landlord or his bailiff one years rent may proceed to execute his judgment as he might have done before the making of this Act [and the sheriff or other officer is hereby empowered and required to levy and pay to the plaintiff as well the money so paid for rent as the execution money [i]*.]

3. It shall and may be lawful for any person or persons having any rent in arrear or due upon any lease or demise for life or lives to bring an action or actions of debt for such arrears of rent in the same manner as they might have done in case such rent were due and reserved upon a lease for years.

4. It shall and may be lawful for any person or persons having any rent in arrear or due upon any lease for life or lives or for years or at will ended or determined to distrain for such arrears after the determination of the said respective leases in the same manner as they might have done if such lease or leases had not been ended or determined.

5. [[ii]* Provided that such distress be made within the space of six calendar months after the determination of such lease [and [iii]*] during the continuance of such landlords title or interest and during the possession of the tenant from whom such arrears became due.]

6. [Provided always ...... that nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to let hinder or prejudice Her Majesty her heirs or successors in the levying recovering or seizing any debts fines penalties or forfeitures that are or shall be due payable or answerable to her Majesty her heirs or successors but that it shall and may be lawful for her Majesty her heirs and successors to levy recover and seize such debts fines penalties and forfeitures in the same manner as if this Act had never been made any thing in this Act contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding [iv]*.]